Winter Woes 
Weary Homeowners Battle Stubborn Ice And Snow

Alfred Weisenbacher 
Jan. 10, 1994 
Alfred H. Weisenbacher, 68, Of Country Club Apartments, Dallas, Died Monday At 
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Plains Township.

By CHARLES H. BOGINO; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Wednesday, January 12, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A QUICK WORDS: COTTAMS WILL REMAIN
FREE ON BAIL 





WILKES-BARRE -- Larry and Leona Cottam will stay out of jail -- for now. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Luzerne County Judge Gifford S. Cappellini ruled Monday that the couple,
who allowed their son to starve to death five years ago, can stay out on bail
while they attempt an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the summer of 1991, Cappellini ordered the Cottams, of Nuangola, to
spend five-to-12 years in prison apiece, but the couple have yet to serve a
day of the sentence. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After a jury declared the Cottams guilty of third-degree murder of their
14-year-old in 1989, state appellate-court petitions from the couple delayed
sentencing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Cottams have been allowed to remain free on $50,000 bail each while
their lawyers file further arguments with higher courts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So far, appellate courts have rejected arguments that the Cottams were
freely exercising their right to their own religious practices. The couple
have said they were on a religious fast, saving the more than $3,000 Larry
Cottam had stashed away in the family home for a tithing to their church. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Part of the problem was that Larry Cottam had a falling out with the
Seventh-Day Adventist Church, in which he had been a minister, and they had no
church earmarked for the donation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When police arrived at the Cottam house in January 1989, they found
14-year-old Eric Cottam dead, his 12-year-old sister Laura and his parents
emaciated from starvation. The Cottams told police they had been on a fast
since the previous Thanksgiving. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After the parents were arrested, their daughter, now 17, was placed in
foster care, where she remains. Larry Cottam, 44, has been working in a bakery
while his case is on appeal. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In November, after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the jury's verdict
and the Cottams' sentence, Luzerne County District Attorney Peter Paul
Olszewski Jr. asked Cappellini to jail the Cottams. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the Cottams' lawyer, Al Flora Jr., argued there was no reason to send
the couple to prison before their last appeals have been heard. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Cappellini agreed and in his decision wrote that Olszewski had not proved
that the Cottams were a threat to society or that they would flee to avoid
serving their sentences if their final appeal isn't in their favor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The Commonwealth has failed to submit any evidence or suggestions of any
kind that defendants have in any manner whatsoever violated or failed to
fulfill the terms and conditions of their bail," Cappellini wrote. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Cottams have until the end of February to file a request to have the
U.S. Supreme Court hear their appeal. It could take months for the high court
to decide whether to hear the case. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Olszewski said he respected the judge's opinion, but was disappointed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The commonwealth presented its petition because these people are convicted
murderers and it's been five years since the crime was committed," he said.
"We just hope that the appeal is handled quickly." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER FILE PHOTO &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Leona and Larry Cottam

Cottams Will Remain Free On Bail 
Judge Says Commonwealth Has 
Not Shown Reason Why Couple Found 
Guilty Of Starving Their Son Should Be 
Incarcerated While Their Lawyers File 
Further Arguments With Higher Courts

Cottams Will Remain Free On Bail Judge Says Commonwealth Has Not Shown Reason Why Couple Found Guilty Of Starving Their Son Should Be Incarcerated While Their Lawyers File Further Arguments With Higher Courts